Vehicle body belt molding construction



Nov. 11, 1952 R. H. MAGUIRE 2,617,679

VEHICLE BODY BELT MOLDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 21 1951 R/imau/REATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 11, 1952 t VEHICLE BODY BELT MOLDINGCONSTRUCTION Application September 21, 1951, Serial No. 247,583

3 Claims, (01. eas -49.2)

' This invention relates generally tomotor vehicle bodies, andparticularly to a molding therefor and the mounting thereof upon thevehicle body.

It has been customary in motor vehicle conlarly toFigure 1, there isshown a motor vehicle struction to provide various metal moldings, usuofthe convertible type having a door H and a ally chrome plated, toenhance the appearance side body panel [2 rearwardly of the door. Theand styling of the vehicle and in some indoor H carries a swingingventilating window l3 stances to conceal certain structural components.and a conventional vertically slidable window I4 Among such moldings arethe so-called belt (Figure 3), while a conventional pivoted quartermoldings extending horizontally along the doors window (not shown) isprovided rearwardly of and the body on each side thereof immediately thedoor and swings out of view into the space below the window openings.The present invenprovided behind the body panel l2. tion provides amolding of different character Mounted upon the door ll at the belt lineparticularly adapted for use as a belt molding, 5 thereof, and securedthereto by conventional but'also suitable for other body locations. Themeans such as concealed retaining clips (not molding of the presentinvention may be made shown), is a chrome plated belt molding iii. ofvinyl or other plastic material and is prefer The metal molding l6extends the entire width ably. preformed to a predetermined cross-secofthe door H from the hinge side thereof to tional shape designed toconform to the contour the opposite side. The forward portion ll of. ofthe body at the belt line and also to provide the molding I6 is ofconventional shape and for attachment of the molding to the body in anwidth and extends from the hinge side of the effective yet simplemanner. As a belt molding, door to an intermediateportion thereof.Rearthe molding has a concave portion corresponding wardly thereof, themolding I6 is reduced in width in shape to the adjacent body panel, areturn to form a narrow portion I8 forming a continuabent marginalflange integrally formed at one tion of the lower part of the forwardportions ll edge of the molding and engaging and secured to of themolding. Adjacent the rearward edge of the adjacent return bent marginalflange of the the door H the metal molding I6 is formed with body paneldefining one side of the window opena narrow upwardly extending integralflange l 9. ing,.and an integral flange at the opposite edge A secondchrome plated metal molding 21 is proof the molding'offset inwardly fromits concave vided along the belt line, of the body panel [2 portion toengage the outer surface of the body rearwardly of the door H and in thepresent, panel and to be secured thereto by means of a instance is shownas being of relatively narrow separate metal molding of narrowcross-section. width at its forward end with a narrow upwardly Astrip ofresilient material such assponge rubextending flange 22 at its forwardedge. Verber is cemented to the inner surface of the contically above,the narrow portions of the moldings cave portion of the molding to forma cushion l6 and 2| plastic moldings ,23 and 24 are positherefor betweenthe plastic molding and the tioned, as shown in Figurerl, body panel.Among other advantages, the con- Figure 2 shows in perspective a typicalportion struction of the present nv ntion permits new of the frontplastic molding 23. The molding. and attractive styling effects to beobtained. In is i l w t referenc to Figure 2, and also addition, theresiliently backed plastic molding t Figure 3 hich shows in cr sct thnot only provides a durable and easily cleaned plastic molding 23 andthe metal moldingv l6 molding of different texture a d app a a t appliedto the vehicle door, it will be seen that it also provides a pleasantlysoft surface when the plastic molding 23 has a body portion '25 of thedoor is grasped in th s re on during p concave shape correspondinggenerally in shape ing and closing thereof. Furthermore, the plasto theadjacent concave portion 2! of the outer tic molding may be furnished inVarious OOIOIS door panel H. At its upper edge the concave and textures.portion 26 of the plastic molding is formed with Other objects andadvantages of this invention an integral return bent, marginal flange 28will be made more appar n a this description adapted toexten'ddownwardly in juxtaposition proceeds, p rticularly when Co d in to theinner surface of themarginal flange 2'9 nection with the acco panydrawings, Whereof the door panel I l r The marginal flange 28 of, in:the plastic molding is suitably secured to the Figure 1 is a sideelevational view of a motor marginal flang 29 of the door panel by beingvehicle of the convertible type incorporating the cemented thereto, orby othersuitable means. A present invention. glass run strip 31 ofconventional construction Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view ofthe is secured to the face of the marginal flange 28 to molding shown inFigure 1, partly broken away form a' guide for one side of the doorwindow I4; andin section." as in conventional practice.

Figure 3- is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view throughthevehicle door, taken' on the plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring nowrto the drawings, and particu- At its lower edge the vinylmolding 23 is formed with an,integral flange 32 offset inwardly from theconcave portion 26 of the molding and adapted to engage the adjacentouter surface of the door panel II. A resilient padding strip 33, formedof sponge rubber or other suitable material, is cemented to the innersurface of the concave portion 26 of the plastic molding 23, and extendsfrom the marginal flange, 28 to the offset flange 32 of the molding. As;best seen in Figure 3, the inner surface of the resilient padding strip33 corresponds in shape to the shape of the upper portion 21 of the doorpanel H.

The narrow rearward part l8 of the chrome plated metal molding l6.overlaps the lower offset marginal flange 32of' the plastic molding 23to securely clamp the latter against the door panel. If desired'theoffset flange 32 could be cemented or otherwiseattached directly to thedoor panel in addition to being held thereon by the metal molding. Itwill be noted from Figure 3 that the narrow portion l8,of the narrowmolding l6, when seated against the offset: flange 32 of the plasticmolding, forms a continuation of the outer surface of the portion 26 ofthe plastic molding to present a pleasing appearance. The plasticmolding 23 for the door is of such length as'to be overlapped atitsforward and rearward edges by the wider portion I1 and by therearward flange [9 of the metal molding respectively.

The plastiemolding 23may advantageously be formed of vinyl althoughother materials may also be satisfactory. The molding is preformed tothe shape shown in the drawings to enable it to be uniform in appearanceand'to be readily and inexpensively assembled in production to thevehicle body. Its outer surface may be smooth, or it may be formed witha pebbled grain or with other textures. It is durable, easily cleaned,and may be provided in various colors to match or blend withthe bodycolors. In addition, it has a soft warm feel to the touch, as contrastedto the cold feeling of the usual chrome plated molding, and forms adesirable construction particularly for custom bodies.

The plastic molding 24 at the belt line of the bodypanel I2 is similarin construction to the molding 23 and is similarly held in place by ametal molding 2|.

The invention contemplates the provision of moldings of the typedescribed above of material other than vinyl plastic, and providedeither with or without a resilient backing strip. The molding of coursemay be of various shapes to conform and be applied to particular bodypanels, and it is'furthermore suitable for use in locations other thanat the vehicle belt line. If desired, a similar molding may be appliedto the inner surfaces of door and body opposite the belt moldings 23 and24 so as. to provide a harmonious appearance. In the construction shownin Figure 3, the plastic molding could of course be applied to the innergarnish molding 34, or the latter could be trimmed with a leather orfabric material, if desired, since it is located inside the vehicle.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be' limited totheexact construction shown and described, but that various changes andmodifications may be. made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimedis:

1. In a vehicle body construction, an outer body panelhaving a concaveportion adjacent its up,-

per edge continuing into a return bent-downwardly extending flatmarginal flange defining .oneside of a window opening, a preformedplastic molding for the upper; edge of said outer body panel, saidmolding having a concave portion corresponding in shape to the concaveportion of said body panel, a return bent flat marginal'flangeintegrally formed at one edge of said moldingand engaging thereturn bent marginal flange of the outer body panel and secured thereto,an

integral flange; at the opposite edge of said moldfurthercharacterizedin that. said body panel is.

a vehicle door panel and said metal molding ex tends the entire Width ofsaid; door .panel from the hinge side of thedoor to the opposite sidethereof, said metal molding being of uniform width from the hinge sideof the door to an intermediate portion thereof and'substantially reducedin width for the remainder of-its length to form av narrow flangebelow-said plastic molding overlapping the lower offset flange ofsaidyplastic molding, said plastic moldin corresponding in lengthgenerally to, thelength of the narrow: portion of said metal molding;and being arranged in longitudinal alignment with the wide portion ofsaid metal molding.

3. In a vehicle body construction, inner and outer laterally spaced bodypanels each having a. concave .portion adjacent its. upper edgecontinuinginto a a return bent; downwardly extending fiat marginalflange, said flanges facing each other and spaced apart to definevanopening therebetween for a slidingwindow panel, window guiding stripsmounted. upcnsaidmarginal flanges and engaging opposite sides ofthewindow,.a preformed plastic. molding for the upper edge of said outerbody panel; said molding havin aconcave portion corresponding in shapeto the concave portion of said body panel, a return bent flat, marginalflange'integrallyformed at the upper edge of said molding and positionedbetween: the return bent marginal.flange of said outer body panel andthe window guiding strip mounted thereon, an integral flangeat theopposite edge of said moldingoffset inwardly from the. concave q portionof the molding and engagingthe outersurface of said outer'body panel, astrip of resilient material secured tothe inner. surface of the concaveportion of said molding to form a cushion therefor, and a metal moldingmounted upon the outer surface of saidouterbody panel and overlappingthe ofiset flangeofsaid plastic molding to holdthe latter against saidouter body-panel.

ROBERT H.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,259,798 Stanwood Man -19, 19182,383,575 Wernig I Aug. 28, 1945 2,504,234 Strickland Apr. 18, 19502,586,631 Esch Feb- 19; 1952

